# NTSB LAX05CA211: American Champion 8GCBC, N617MA, Phoenix, AZ, June 17, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 17, 2005, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.688331, -112.082496 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6883&lon=-112.0825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61751/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA211 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The airplane ground looped during the landing rollout. The pilot was landing on runway 25. An aviation routine weather report issued for the airport 7 minutes before the accident reported that the winds were from 160 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2005, about 1300 mountain standard time, an American Champion 8GCBC, N617MA, ground looped at the Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix Arizona. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Albuquerque (ABQ), New Mexico, about 1030, with a planned destination of Phoenix. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he performed a standard wheel landing, and ground looped on the landing rollout due to unforeseen dust devil activity in the area. During the ground loop, the right wing, right wheel and landing strut, and right horizontal stabilizer were damaged from impact with the dirt off the side of the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. In a telephone conversation, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that he was at the Raytheon building at the time of the accident. He talked to the pilot after the accident, and the pilot stated to him that he ground looped. In his conversation, the FAA inspector stated that there might have been dust devil activity in the area. However, there was no dust devil activity on the runway at the time of the accident. The pilot was landing on runway 25. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) issued for Deer Valley at 1253 reported that the winds were from 160 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N617MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N617MA), registered now, S/N 444-2003, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Champion (ACAC) 8GCBC - Registry model: [American Champion 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (registry code 2121004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 444-2003 - Airframe hours: 90 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael D. Sarti - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2005, 90 hours before - Departed: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Destination: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ - Airport: DVT, Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, runway 25L, 8,208 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 1,043 total, 273 in this make and model, 1,043 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: DVT ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050617022629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050617022629A), Jun 17, 2005: Bbavia 8GCBC, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 17, 2005, about 1300 mountain standard time, an American champion 8GCBC, N617MA, ground looped at the Phoenix Deer valley airport (dvt), Phoenix… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.